Premier League Top at Christmas Odds 2020/21 Season

In the 2011/12 and 2017/18 season, Manchester City have been top on Christmas day in the Premier League, and then have gone on to lift the trophy and City’s odds to win the league are priced at 8/11.

This time around, the club have a tough task to repeat this feat after a what looks like a difficult start to the season. Their first four fixtures see them clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City, Leeds United and Arsenal.

With their campaign in Europe moving into August, tiredness may be a factor in the new season, especially as Liverpool have been getting plenty of R&R since the end of July. However, moving into December, Pep Guardiola’s men will have a much easier time than their beginning to the campaign, as rivals Manchester United are the only ‘Big Six’ side they face in this month.

Although, if City can get Lionel Messi to the Etihad, perhaps being top of the tree at Christmas is just the start. Although, as we have seen in recent times, the days of leading the way at the festive period barely tells a tale of the upcoming chapters.

City are now priced at 5/4 to lead the way on December 25th.

After winning the season last year, debates have begun on whether or not Liverpool will in fact come into this campaign stronger. Currently, the champions’ odds of successfully defending the trophy is 2/1, and, in reality, the Reds should continue to dominate.

All of Liverpool’s front three are just 28, whilst Virgil van Dijk is still many months away from turning 30, just as players like Fabinho and Alisson sit below the age of 28. Moving forward, there is a seriously high chance we haven’t seen the best from these players as they approach their ‘peak’ years.

At the start of the 2020/21 campaign, Jurgen Klopp’s men have also a difficult start with fixtures trips to Chelsea and Everton, whilst they host Arsenal and Leeds United within their first five games also. Although, a positive for the Reds is that they have had a longer break than their title rivals after exiting the Champions League way back in March.

Liverpool have infamously been top at Christmas on a number of occasions, conceding the title come summer three out of the four times they’ve led at the festive period.

Liverpool odds of finishing top at Christmas are now priced at 9/4.

Manchester United will come into this season later than most due to their campaign in Europe lasting until August 16th. Currently, their first fixture against Burnley will be postponed which is likely to be a huge benefit for Red Devils as they truly looked a weakened, lacklustre side towards the final few games.

Similarly to City and Liverpool, the Red Devils have a tough start to the season with Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal to come in their first five fixtures, although, each of them are at Old Trafford.

In the last decade, United have finished twice in the top spot at Christmas and in those years they have gone on to win the league. However, since Ferguson departed from the club, the Red Devils have failed to finish in that spot and in truth, never really been close to doing so.

Manchester United are now priced at 5/1 odds of being top at Christmas.

Frank Lampard had an impressive first season as Chelsea manager after taking over the side with a transfer ban and with club star Eden Hazard departing for Real Madrid. The Blues finished in fourth place, despite having the worst goals conceded records in the top 10 and after occupying third spot for parts of the campaign.

The Blues boss has already improved his side more than any other in Europe with the signings of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva, whilst Kai Havertz is to reportedly be confirmed soon.

Chelsea’s first five games this year are not as difficult as the likes of Manchester City with their biggest fixture coming against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. In all Premier League matches until December 25th, Lampard will only have to face three ‘Big Six’ clubs: Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs.

This puts Chelsea in arguably the best position to claim the top spot at Christmas and this could be the season we see the Londoners creep back amongst title contention.

Chelsea’s odds of finishing top at Christmas are now 8/1.

After being appointed in December last year, Mikel Arteta will start his first full season in charge of Arsenal. Since then, he has taken the side to eighth in the league, won the FA Cup beating the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea, whilst also lifting the Community Shield with a penalty shootout victory over Liverpool.

The Gunners have struggled to make any significant signings in recent times and the only transfer thus far is 33-year-old Willian on a free.

Arsenal do have arguably the toughest start to the season out of the ‘Big Six’ clubs, as they meet both Liverpool and City early on. After their clash with Guardiola’s men, the Londoners will face Leicester City and then United at the Old Trafford.

Ahead of this Premier League season, Arsenal odds of finishing top at Christmas are 33/1, and despite positive moves forward under Arteta, this still looks a side far, far away from title contention.

Throughout Premier League history, Spurs have failed to be top at Christmas in all 28 seasons. This is one figure that new manager Jose Mourinho, who helped Spurs finish in sixth after taking over when the club was in 14th, will be wanting to overcome.

Spurs will host Everton on game week one and then clash with United on game week four. Despite a more relaxed run of games afterwards in the league, Mourinho’s men will have an extremely difficult run coming up and into December, as they meet City, Chelsea and Arsenal in November. Then, just before Christmas, a battle with the champions beckons, before a clash with Leicester

Tottenham odds of top position at Xmas are now 33/1.

After falling out of the top four spot towards the later stages, Leicester were at one stage considered a title contender to Liverpool, just as much as City were. Post-restart, the Foxes were one of the worst teams in the league and couldn’t run with Chelsea and United towards the end of the campaign, finishing fifth.

As the season approaches, Leicester’s odds of finishing top at Christmas are currently priced at 33/1.

Since their promotion back to the Premier League in 2018, Wolves have placed consecutively inside the top eight. However, as Nuno Espirito Santo prepares for his third season in the top-flight, a more optimistic finish could occur with the club posing a visible threat to those competing in the Champions League spots.

Santo will be wanting to bring new faces to Molineuxm especially as Doherty joins Spurs. Currently, Wolves are 40/1 odds of finishing top at Christmas.